Stretcher-frame for paintings



(No Model.)

F. P PPLEGER. STRETOHER FRAME FOR PAINTING.

No. 335,383 Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

J R '27 a2 s e S S 3 n m w "nuum... flllllylllllllllllllllllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P.1FLEGER, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

STRETCHER-FRAME FOR PAINTINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,383. dated February 2, 1886.

Application filed September-.26, 1885. Serial No. 178,252. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. PFLEGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Joliet, in the county of \Vill and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretcher Frames for Paintings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the stretcherframe having a canvas secured thereon, and having a portion of said canvas removed to show one of the corners of the frame and the manner in which the wedges or keys are used to spread the corners to stretch the canvas. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the side bars of the frame. Fig. 3 is an inner edge view of the same, showing the location and arrangement of the tenons, miters, and mortises at each end. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of aside and end bar united by means of their tenons and mortises, and showing them arranged to receive a central wedge between them. Fig. 5 is an inner edge view of one end of a side bar, showing its tenon, miters, and mortise, a cross scction of the tenon of an end bar, and a view of the double wedge, showing how its two prongs engage the two tenons to prevent it from falling out. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sections of the bars to show their forms; and Figs. 9 and 10 are inner edge views of both a side and end bar detached from each other, and showing an offset in their tenons for the reception of a central wedge.

This invention relates to certain improvements in stretcher-frames for paintings; and it consists in the peculiar formation and arrangement of the tenons, mortises, and miters for uniting the four bars upon which the canvas is secured and the wedges for spreading the corners of the frame to stretch the canvas, which is fully set forth and explained in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, R represents the side bars of the frame, and R the end bars. The ends of each bar are formed as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, having the tenon P at one side of and on a line with the center of the bar and a mortise, B, next adjacent to said tenon opposite the said center line. The

' miter.

mortise and tenon take up about the middle half of the bar, and the remainder of the bar at each outer side is cut in the form of a true The mortise and tenon at one end of a bar are reversed from those at the opposite end, so that either end of a side bar will fit either end of an end bar, so end bars and side bars may be picked up promiscuously and united, and so the bars may be changed end for end and turned either side up, so a perfect side may always be presented to the canvas. This constitutes one of the principal improvements in this frame, as heretofore the tenons and mortises have been so constructed that the bars could not be used either side up or changed end for end and connect with either end of any of the other bars.

In the manufacture of these bars one side will often be imperfect or get injured, and many times would be wasted and useless in case they could not be reversed, as shown.

I am aware it is not new to have the mortise next adjacent to the tenon; but I am not aware that they have been arranged as shown to permit the reversal of the bars, as stated.

The wedge for spreading the bars apart at their corners is shown at K, and is in the form of a staple having its two legs united by a body part or head.

The manner of the application of the wedge is shown in Figs. 1 and 5. it being driven between the miters E and F of the bars, and so it strides the two tenons and closely engages them, so its frictional contact with them will prevent its falling out, and when driven in between the bars will spread them apart on both sides alike, so as not to wind or skew the frame.

This wedge is another improvement over the ordinary separate wedges. If desired, however, the two tenons may each be rabbeted out, as shown at a in Figs. 9 and 10, so that when they are united, as shown in Fig. 4, the rabbets will form a central opening for the reception of a single central wedge, as shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 4.

In order to prevent the canvas 0 from lying on the sides of the frame, the side bars are rabbeted out, so as to leave a bead or slight elevation, D, on the outer edge of the frame,

as shown in cross-section in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the canvas being stretched from the top of one bead to the top of the bead on the opposite bar, thus effectually holding it up off the bars and preventing its adhering thereto. Both sides of the bars may be thus formed, as shown in Fig. 6, or only one side, While the opposite side is either left plane or beveled, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. By this construction and arrangement of the bars the end bars of large frames may be used as side bars for smaller frames, with shorter bars for the ends; and thus dealers in carrying a stock of frames need not provide themselves With all the varied sizes of complete frames, but can simply carry a'number of different-length bars, which may be put together by the dealer at will to produce the required size frame by interchanging the bars.

The bars, as are shown in cross-section in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, are rounded on their inner corners,to prevent them from creasing the canvas should it be pressed in far-enough at any time to touch said bars.

I am aware that stretcher-frames have been used wherein the ends of the bars are mitered at each side and having atongue and groove at each end, but not where the tongue and groove at one end of the bars are reversed from those on their opposite ends, so that the side and end bars may be united interchangeably and reversed, or used either side up, as shown and described in this case. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new and useful, and desire to se- 3 5 cure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to Wit:

1. In a stretcher-frame, the combination of the bars It and R, each having a tenon, 1?, at each end at one side from the center and a mortise,]3, adjacent thereto, opposite said cen- 4o ter line, and having the mitered portions E F, the said tenons and mortises on one end of said bars being reversed from those at the opposite end, so the side and end bars may be interchangeabl y united and reversed and either 4 5 side up, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a stretcherframe, the bars R and R, each having a tenon, P, at each end at one side from the center and a mortise, B, adjacent thereto opposite said center line, and havv5o ing the mitered portions E F, the said tenons and mortises at one end of said bars being re versed from those at their opposite end, in combination with the double wedge K, as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANK P. PFLEGER.

Vitnesses:

\VM. J. HUTOHINS, THOS. H. HUTOHINS. 

